740.00119 Control Bulgaria/12–1544: Telegram
The American Representative in Bulgaria ( Barnes ) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 16—8:55 a.m.]
25. The Council of Ministers has issued a statement apparently calculated to present in the most favorable light possible the setback to the efforts of the non-Communist elements in the Government to save the army from a radical purge. The pertinent portions of the declaration are contained in my immediately following telegram (No. 26).78
The truth is that an extensive purge of the army is now underway, with General Kozovski, mentioned in my telegram No. 12 of December 8, passing on the records of the officers while at the same time “assistant commanders” (political commissars) are being selected and attached to all commanding officers.
Lieutenant General Marinov, now supreme commander of the Bulgarian armies (the new Chief of Staff is General Slavkov), is understood to have come to terms with the Communist Party if he has not actually accepted membership in the party, and the appointment of Terpeshev, the Communist Minister without Portfolio, as Lieutenant General in the Bulgarian Army has been officially announced. From a reliable source we have heard that there are now 16 general officers in the Bulgarian Army who have come from Russia since the arrival of Soviet forces in Bulgaria. Also units of the militia (former shumtsies or partisans) are being detailed to all groups of the army.
In view of above, it would seem foolhardy to believe that democratic elements in Bulgaria may hope for support from army in whatever resistance these elements may plan against efforts of Communists to gain political mastery in this country.
Repeated to Moscow and Caserta.
- Not printed.↩